The best smart locks

Deadbolt Replacement Smart Locks

Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi is a versatile smart lock with precision hardware and a nice low-profile design. This model has built-in Wi-Fi, so it doesn’t require a plug-in Bluetooth bridge like our previous pick, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro. You can unlock the U-Bolt Pro WiFi six different ways, including with a numeric code, using a application, through a physical key and, the piece of resistance, through the fingerprint.

We found the feel and function of the lock’s number buttons to be superior to the numbers pecked at on the glass touchscreen of many keypad models. That said, fingerprint ID is still our preferred way to unlock it (even if that feature is sometimes finicky). Regardless of the method you use to activate the U-Bolt Pro WiFi, it responds quickly. It also has a comparatively quiet mechanism, and from an aesthetic perspective we like that it’s small and unobtrusive. We ran into a few issues during setup and when using it with third-party platforms (see Flaws but no roadblocks), but none of those hiccups stop us from recommending it.

If you can’t find this model, and if you don’t mind having to use Ultraloq’s Bridge plug-in to connect your smart lock to your Wi-Fi network, the original Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro is a perfect replacement and is less expensive too (see Other good smart locks).

runner-up

Schlage Encode Plus Smart Wi-Fi Lock

This sharp-looking, easy-to-install Schlage model works flawlessly and is the first Apple Home Key compatible lock.

Purchase options

*At the time of publication, the price was $320.

Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant

If you want a smart keypad lock that works with Apple HomeKit, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt is an updated version of our previous, also-great, pick, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt. Beyond modest cosmetic updates, this revamped model gives you the ability to unlock it by holding your iPhone or Apple Watch close, via Apple’s Home Key feature. Of the many locks we’ve tested, the Encode Plus is one of the easiest smart locks to install and one of the simplest models to use. We tend to prefer the tactile feel of keyboards like the Encode Plus keyboard over that of a glass touchscreen, and that feature makes this lock less of a hassle to use, making it a good choice for rental properties, especially because it is an extra resistant commercial. grade lock and has a built in alarm. If this model is backordered, our previous option, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt, is still a good choice, though it lacks Apple Home key support.

Smart Locks with Deadbolt Adapter

budget selection

wyze lock

For anyone who wants to keep an existing slot, Wyze Lock is fast and quiet. It also has a built-in sensor to detect when the door is ajar and comes with a small plug-in Wi-Fi adapter.

Purchase options

*At the time of publication, the price was $130.

Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

If you’re a renter and you’re not allowed to change your locks, or if you just don’t want to change yours for any reason, the Wyze Lock is a low-cost but full-featured model that easily attaches to an existing deadbolt. The hardware installs quickly, and in our tests it performed well and was very quiet. The package includes a small puck-like pluggable Wi-Fi adapter to enable remote access and smartphone notifications. Wyze Lock offers some impressive features, like a built-in door sensor that alerts you via a chime and smartphone notification when someone has left the door open or ajar. Wyze also sells the Wyze Lock Keypad, a small block with number buttons that connects wirelessly to the Wyze Lock so you can activate the lock without relying on an app or geolocation. In our tests, the keyboard has performed flawlessly, so we recommend it as an upgrade.

Without the addition of the keyboard, Wyze Lock requires you to use an app to unlock it, which for everyday use isn’t much more convenient than using a key, or you have to enable geofencing, a system that uses your phone’s location to determine where is found and then lock or unlock the door automatically. Geofencing may work well for some homeowners, but we are concerned about the innate security risk of accidental triggers. Also, some Wyze Lock owners report that auto unlock does not work consistently, sometimes forcing them to rely on the app.

Lever Handle Smart Lock

Our selection

Fingerprint Ultraloq Latch 5

This smart keypad lock replaces a doorknob, not a deadbolt, with an easy-to-access lever handle, and it has a fingerprint reader for faster unlocking.

Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

Most front doors have a deadbolt in addition to a knob or lever, but for those without a deadbolt on their door, we recommend the Ultraloq Latch 5 Fingerprint Smart Lever Lock. It’s a complete replacement for a doorknob or lever, and like our top pick, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi, has a keypad, fingerprint reader, hidden physical slot, and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity for remote access to through an app. The Latch 5 is substantially thicker than any of our other picks, and the touchscreen isn’t as responsive or comfortable to use as keyboards on other picks. Still, the fingerprint reader works well and quickly, the lock mechanism emits a brief, quiet buzz, the lock is easy to operate via your app, and because it’s lever-based, it’s especially useful for anyone who has mobility issues, such as difficulty turning. a knob